Coldest air in decades
Prairie du Chien was pretty quiet Tuesday and Wednesday, with a weather warning in effect for record-breaking, dangerous cold through Thursday, Jan. 31, at noon. But Morgan Stifel was out mid-afternoon Tuesday, braving -2oF degree temperatures and -20oF wind chills, as he walked to his home on Marquette Road. Stifel said he moved here in the 1990s and has never seen the air quite so raw as it’s been this week. According to the National Weather Service at La Crosse, the region hasn’t seen wind chills in the 50-below-zero range since Feb. 2-3, 1996. (Photo by Correne Martin)
State of emergency declared, closures are widespread
By Correne Martin
Wisconsin is in a state of emergency, as declared by Gov. Tony Evers Monday, in response to ongoing dangerous wind chills predicted to reach 45 to 60 degrees below zero Tuesday through Thursday.
Warming centers are available in Crawford County upon request, according to the emergency management and public health offices. The two entities team up to manage the centers upon request for as many as 24 hours a day if necessary. Emergency Management Director Jim Hackett said, to request a warming center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., contact the public health department at 326-0229. Outside of normal business hours, requests should be made by contacting the county communications center at 326-8414.
Heavy snow started this week’s storm system that moved across southwest Wisconsin Sunday into Monday, bringing an average of 6 inches of snow across Crawford County, according to the National Weather Service of La Crosse. That combined with strong winds caused life-threatening conditions and record-breaking temperatures not seen since Feb. 2-3, 1996.
On Monday, the city of Prairie du Chien announced the closure of all non-essential city services by 2 p.m. Tuesday, through the day Wednesday. This includes city hall, parks and rec/Hoffman Hall, library, streets, water and sewer. Certainly, police and fire personnel remain available 24/7, while emergency water and sewer services are also available, on an on-call basis.
In addition to all area schools calling off classes Monday through Wednesday, due to the snow and extreme temperatures, numerous businesses also closed or posted shortened, daytime hours—mainly Tuesday and Wednesday. Such businesses included banks, health clinics, grocery stores, food pantries, insurance providers, financial advisers and many retail and eating establishments. Even the U.S. Postal Service announced its mail carriers would not deliver Wednesday.
Gov. Evers’ executive emergency order directed all state agencies to assist if emergency response and recovery efforts were necessary due to the snowstorm and cold. The order gave Wisconsin’s adjutant general the authority, if need be, to call up the Wisconsin National Guard for emergency support as well.
